Bridge construction



. Patented Mar. 2|, I899. C. M. HORTON.

amuse cousmucnon;

No. 62I,

(Application filed May 8, 1898.)

5 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR 5 Shaman -Sheet 2.

Patented Mar. 2|, I899.

(Application filed May 8, 1898.)

C M HORTON BRIDEIE CONSTRUCTION.

r, H. Jr J V 1 Y, z:

m r a M d e t n e t a P N 0 T D" 0 H M C 2 7 6 w.- 6 m N BRIDGECONSTRUCTION.

(Application filed May 3, 1898.)

5 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

4. f i p 'mz wpnms PEI-spa 00.. PHOTO-Una. WASHINGTON. u. c.

No. 62l,672 Patented Mar. 2|, I899.

I C. M. HORTON.

BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION.

(Application filed May 3, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Shoet 4v.

No. 62|,672. Patented Mar. 2|, I899.

' C. M. HORTON.

BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION.

{Application filed May 3, 1898.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

CHARLES M. HORTON, OF SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN.

BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION.-

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent NO. 621,672, dated March 21,1899.

Application filed May 3, 1898. Serial No. 679 614. (N model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. HORTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Superior, in the county of Douglas and-State of Wisconsin,have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Bridge Construction;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable-others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in bridges, and has for its objectthe construction of bridge structures employing members which may bejoined together without puncturing the metal to any great extent,thereby I of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In, the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of abridge structure formed in accordance with my invention, the centralportion of the said structure being broken away. Fig. 2'represents a topplan view of one end of the said structure. Fig. 3 represents a sideelevation of a portion of my improved bridge structure, showing thearrangementof the main panel-posts and the intermediate panel-posts andconnectingbraces. Fig. 4 represents a Vertical section through one ofthe main panel-posts, the parts of the structure being shown inelevation. Fig. 5 shows a similar sectional view through one of theintermediate posts. Fig. 6 represents a perspective view of a portion ofa top chord-beam, showing the diagonal braces and clip used at the topof one of the main panelposts. Fig. 7 represents a perspective Viewshowing the manner in which the stringerbeams are secured to thefloor-girders. Fig.

8 represents a vertical longitudinal section.

through one of the foot-boxes for receiving the shore ends of the topchord-beams. Fig. 9 represents a detail sectional view through one ofthe floor-girders, showing the manner of suspending the same to one ofthe intermedi- 'ate posts and also showing one of the diagonalfloor-braces. Fig. 10 represents a detail perspective view of a tie beamor member,

showing the manner in which the securingbolt is adapted to pass throughthe same. Fig. 11 represents a perspective view of a stiffeningbox-brace for use interiorly of the top chord-beams. Fig. 12 representsa horizontal sectional view through one of the main panel-posts, showinghow the longitudinal tension-rods are secured thereto. Fig. 13representsa reduced side elevation of a bridgespan, illustrating thegeneral arrangement of the top and bottom cross and bracingbars androds. Fig. 14 represents a transverse vertical section through afoot-box for receiving the shore end of the top chord-beam, and Fig. 15represents a side elevation of a modified form of foot-box.

In the drawings, A represents a top'chordtop chord-beams preferably ofbox-beams comprising channel bars or irons a a, whichare held togetherby means of channel plates or bars, as a. The upper edges of the chan-vnel-irons a a are preferably provided with outer flanges a and innersmallerflflanges a The channel or binding plate .a is providedwithlongitudinally-arranged lugs or ribs, as at a a which form channels uponthe plate a.

and are adapted to receive the flanges of the beams on. The-members arepreferably applied together whenthe channel-plate is hot, and the beamsare then passed through rolls, and the flanges or ribs a a are rolleddown while in a heated condition upon the flanges. a ai -of the beams aa; By this method 1 am enabled to produce a, box-beam WhiGhzlS joinedtogether throughout without the use of bolts or perforating-ribs. Inapplying these boxbeams to bridge constructions I preferably use them astop chord-beams and arrange them so that the binding. or channel platesa will be on top, leaving the space between the beams a' a open at thebottom. The top chord-beams may be made in sections of any desiredlength, and of course where the span is a very short one they may bemade of one piece; but where the bridge-span is of great length it ispreferable to form the top chordbeams of a number of box-beams placedend to end. The meeting ends of the said top chord-beams fit snuglyagainst each other and are held together by means of clips orsplicing-plates, as a The clip or splicingplate a is preferably made ofsuflicient width to extend over both meeting ends of the top chord-beamsand is preferably bolted to both of them. The inner ends of thesplicingplates are preferably extended beyond the edge of the topchord-beams for supporting diagonal and cross bracing, as will behereinafter described. The meeting ends of the top chord-beams whichsupport the main panelposts may be provided with a socket, as at a,

and a tongue or projection, as at 0. adapted to fit in the said recessor socket a This provides a good hearing, as shown in Fig. 6 of thedrawings, for the lateral supportingbolt which holds the upper end of,the panelpost. The beams a a of the top chord-beams may be laterallybraced, if desired, by means of diagonal lattice-work, as shown at a inthe drawings. The shore sections of the top chord-beam are preferablyinclined, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the lower ends of the saidshore-beams being received and sup- .ported by the foot-boxes C. Thesefoot-boxes each: comprise a base-plate, as 0, having an abutment orshoulder, as 0, formed thereon, and side walls c ,which extend upwardlyupon either side of the lower end of the chordbeam and prevent itslateral movement. A bolt or pin, as 0 passes through the side lugs orwalls a and the lower end of the top chordbeam for securing the latterin place. The side walls or legs 0 are strengthened by a centralabutment, as at c, which tapers from the base upwardly, as shownin Fig.14 of the drawings. The base-plate c is provided with a recess, as at 0upon its under side, which is adapted to inclose a supportingbase, as at0 This supporting-base 0- comprises, preferably, a plate having acentral cavity, as 0 upon its upper side, adapted to receive a series ofrollers, as 0 0 The rollers are of sufficient diameter to extend abovethe upper edge of the supporting-base c and to receive the weight of thefoot-boxes C. These rollers are preferably spaced apart, so as not totoucheacli' other, by means of connecting-plates 0, having suitablebearings, which engage journals, as 0 upon the opposite ends of eachroller, as clearly seen in Figs. 8 and 14 of the drawings. Theoverhanging flange of the foot-boxes completely incloses the upper edgeof the supportingbase, so that water or ice cannot get to thebearing-rollers or the cavity in which theyare placed. The base a isadapted to be bolted to masonry or other such support by means of boltsor in any other suitable manner. Each of the boxes 0 is provided withparallel lugs or lips, as 0 which are adapted to receive the diagonalfloor-braces of the bridge structure, as will be hereinafter described.

At suitable intervals along the span main panel-posts are suspended fromthe top chordbeam, as at B B. These panel-posts B may be made of anysuitable T or channel irons; but I preferably form them of structuralbeams, as illustrated in Fig. 12 of the drawings. Each of thesestructural beams comprises a' central I-beam, as I), havingchannel-irons, as b, secured to its flanges. The channel plates or barsI) are provided with flanges or ribs, as b forming channels upon thefaces of the said plates, which are adapted to receive the flanges ofthe I-beam I). These flanges or ribs are rolled upon the edges of theI-beam, preferably while in a heated condition, so as to securely fastenthem to said beam and make the structure practically an integral onewithoutthe use of bolts or rivets.

As shown in Fig. 4 of the-drawings, the upper end of each panel-post Bhas its web portion cut away, as at b the channel-irons forming aportion of the said beams also being cut away to a point below the loweredge of the top chord-beam. The upper end of the beam thus prepared isinserted into the opening or groove upon the under side of the topchord-beam and a supporting-bolt, as B, is passed through the flanges ofthe I-beam b and through the webs of the ,top chordbeam. In order tofurther support the panelposts B upon the bolt or rivet B, a clip, as b,adapted to receive between its flanges b the web of the panel-posts, issecured thereto by means of bolts or rivets. The clip I) is alsoprovided with an upwardly-extending eye portion, as I), through whichthe bolt B also extends. It will thus be seen that the panel-post isfirmly secured to the top chordbeam. Sufficient room still remainsbetween the eye I) and the flanges of the panel-post to permit of thediagonal brace rods and bars being also secured upon the said bolt B. Atthis point in the top ch0rd-beam I also preferably apply astifiening-box, as F, which is formed of such a contour as to fit snuglyinto the inner face of the top chord-beam, as seen in Fig. 4 of thedrawings. This stiffening plate or box is also illustrated inperspective in Fig. 11 of the drawings. The bolt B passes through thewalls of the stiffening-box F and holds the same in position. Thestifiening box F is also preferably applied at all points in the topchord-beam where the sections thereof are spliced together. In ordertofurther strengthen the beams at the points where the bolt B passesthrough the webs of the top attaching the diagonal and cross braces ofthe bridge. As seen in Fig; 4 of the drawings, cross-braces, as G, areinterposed between the panel-posts upon each side of the structure, thesaid braces comprising a lattice-work having an upper and lower angle-.iron 9 g and intermediate diagonally-arranged bars 9 The upperangle-iron g is engaged at its end by a bolt, as 9 which passes throughthe inner projecting ends of the top clip a and the angle-plate b Thelower angle-iron g rests against the panelposts B and is further bracedin place by means of a diagonal angle-iron, as at 9 Diagonally-arrangedbrace structures, as g g, are also secured in place at the head of thepanel-posts by means of the vertical bolt 9 These are constructed oflattice-work similar to the braces G, but are preferably made muchnarrower. The webs of the lower ends of the panel-posts are cut away inthe same manner as at the upper end, and a suspending-clip, as h, isbolted to the web of the said panel-posts in the same manner as thesuspending-clip b is applied at the upper end. The clip h is preferablyprovided with two downwardly-extending eyes, as at h, which engage asuspending-bolt, as H, at the bottom of the panel-post, the said boltalso passing. through the flanges of the panel-post proper. The belt Hthus suspended to the bottom of the panel-posts in turn supports thefloor-girder E by means of yokes, as e. The yokes e preferably consistof U-shaped bars, as illustrated more particularly in Fig.

9'of the drawings, which pass over the bolt H and then downwardlythrough the flanges of the floor-girder E upon either side of the webthereof and are secured in place by means of nuts, as 6., appliedbeneath the said floorgirder E. A strengthening-plate, as 6 ispreferably interposed between the top of the floor-girder and the lowerend of the panel- ;post, the yokes e 6 also passing through the saidplate. The diagonal-braces of the bridge are also secured at their lowerends to the said bolt H, as well as the lower chord beams or bars D.Diagonal brace-rods are preferably secured to the ends of thefloor-beams E, the said brace-rods I extending from the end of onefloor-beam to the opposite end of the next adjoining floor-beam andhaving bifurcated end portions, as at t', which are adapted to embracethe upper flanges of the floor-beam E. The bifurcated ends of said beamsare also provided with eyes, as at 71,

through which the yokes e pass to secure them firmly in place to saidfloor-girders. Intermediate panel posts or braces are suspended from thetop chord-beam about midway between the main panel-posts B and comprise,preferably, T-irons, as J, which extend into the open under side of thetop chord-beam. The legs of the T- beams J are cut away at their endsfor a short distance, and-spacingblocks, as 7", are interposed betweenthe ends of the said T-irons to hold them against the inner surfaces ofthe top chord-beam. The lower end of the T-irons j support a pin or bolt7' upon which are suspended eye bars or rods, as 7' j the lower ends'ofthe said bars extending down to one of the floor-girders and supportinga bolt or bar, as 3' Yokes e 6 pass through the flanges of thefloorbeams E and over the bolts 3' for supporting the ends of thefloor-girders upon the intermediate panel-posts. The yokes e are securedand pass through the flanges of the floor-girdersin the same manner asabove described in connection with the yokes e. The bottom chord bars orbeams D also engage the said bolts 7' connecting them with:

From

joining main panel-post and are secured upon the supporting-bolts Bthereof. Beginning with the central panelpost of the bridge structure,diagonal brace rods or bars, as J, extend from the lower end of the saidcentral panel-post to the upper ends of the next adjoining shorewardposts upon either side thereof. Upon each side of the central postscorresponding bars J extend from the bottom of each panel-post to thetop of the next shoreward panel-post until each end of the span isreached. So, also, beginning with the intermediate panel-posts which arenearest the center, brace-rods, asf, extend from the centralsupporting-bolts 7' thereof each way from the center toward the shoreends of the span to the bottom ofthe next adjoining main panel-posts;Similar bars extend from each boltj toward the next shoreward panel-postto the end of the span. This arrangement of diagonal upwardly-extendingbrace-bars and diagonallydownwardly-extending rods can be easily seen byreference to Fig. 13 ofv the drawings.

Cross-brace structures, as at K, are also interposed between theintermediate panelposts, extending from one side of the bridge structureto the other side, the said brace structure being supported by anangle-plate 10, secured to the inner side of the top chordbeam by meansof the upper supporting-bolt j. Other rivets or bolts may be used asadditional means for securing the said angleplate to the top chord-beam.The brace structure K comprises, preferably, an angle or T iron, whichextends across the bridge. said brace K is further braced andstrengthened by means of a diagonal brace-rodor The.

angle-iron, as 70 extending from the said brace K to the intermediatepanel-post J.

Tension-rods, as Z, are preferably secured to the panel-posts to aid inholding the structure together as an entirety. These tensionironscomprise rods, as Z, one end of each rod being screw-threaded, as at Z,and the other end being provided with a bifurcated portion, as at Z theends of which are screw-threaded. The screw-threaded end Z' is adaptedto engage a plate, as Z which bears against one side of a mainpanel-post. The bifurcated screw-threaded ends Z extend through the webof the main panel-posts and through the said plate Z and are held inposition by means of nuts, as Z Z. The rods Z, which are nearest theshore end of the span, are preferably provided with eyes upon theirshore ends for engaging the last shoreward bolts or rods j j In order totake up any slack in the rods Z, they may be provided with turnbuckl'esat anypoint intermediate their ends.

' As seen in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the floorstringers E of the bridgerest upon the floorgirders at right angles thereto, and in order toattach them to the said girders connectingplates, as e are interposedbetween the said stringers E and the girders E. The plates 6 areprovided with downwardly-projecting lugs, as e, which engagecorresponding notches formed in the flanges of the girders E, and thussecure the plate against lateral and longitudinal movement upon the saidgirder. The piece or plate e is also provided with upwardly-extendinglugs, as e which engage notches, as at e, formed in the lower flanges ofthe stringers E. The stringers are thus held firmly in place upon thegirders E. Flooring or other suitable structure may be applied to saidstringers in any usual or Well-known manner.

The shore ends-of the structure are preferably modified to adapt them tothe downwardly-bent portions of the top chord-beams. The last panel nextto the shore end is preterably formed of four eyebars arranged in pairs,as at M, the upper ends of the said eyebars being supported upon a boltpassing through the top chord-beam and the lower end of the said eyebarssupporting a pin, to which the floor-girder is secured by means ofyokes, as heretofore described. A diagonal member or beam, as N,connects the lower end of these eye-beams with the center of thedownwardly-bent shore end of the top chord-beam, as at n. T-barsparallel with the said strut or bar N further brace the end sections, asat n 'n. The strut or bar N is preferably approximately I-shapedincross-section, as illustrated in Fig. 11 of the drawings, and isprovided with holes in its flanges near the ends of the said bar toreceive the bolts which connect it with the bridge structure, the web ofthe said bar being cut away, as at n, to permit the bolts to passthrough. Other strengthening-bars, as at n n, are also provided tofurther strengthen the end sections of the structure. As shown in Fig. 2of the drawings, the end sections are connected from side to side bymeans of T or angle bars, as O 0. structure, as 0, is also interposedbetween the top chord-beams of the end structure and serves as a furtherbrace to this portion of the bridge. This lattice-work may be formed ofangle or T irons and arranged in any manner which is found mosteffective for guarding against lateral movement. The end latticework 0 0upon the shore ends of the bridge may be also provided withinwardlyextending diagonal braces or struts, as 0' 0, which connect thesaid lattice-work with the last panel-posts at each end of the bridgestructure, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The floor-braces I, which are used on the shore end panels, are providedwith eyes which are adapted to extend between the lips c 0 formed uponthe foot-boxes G, as hereinbefore described. It will be apparent thatwashers and spacing-sleeves and turnbuckles may be used in thisstructure where it may be found expedient Without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bridge, the combination with suitable panel-posts andfloor-beams, of a top chord-beam comprising longitudinal beams boundtogether by a longitudinal plate or bar having ribs thereon, said ribsbeing rolled upon the flanges of the said beams for binding the partstogether to form a box-beam, and means for bracing the parts together,substantially as described.

2. In a bridge structure, the combination with a top chord-beam, andpanel-posts suspended therefrom, of downwardly-bent shore ends forming apart of the top chord-beam, bottom chord-beams, foot-boxes adapted toreceive and have the shore ends of the top chord-beam rest upon them,the said footboxes comprising an integral base-plate and sidelimiting-lugs, a shoulder formed on the base-plate between thelimiting-lugs forming an abutment for the end of the top chordbeam andmeans for securing the chord-beams in the said boxes, substantiallyasdescribed.

3. In a bridge structure, the combination with panel-posts andfloor-girders, of a top chord-beam for supporting the same,the shoreends of the said beam being bent downwardly, bottom chord-beams,foot-boxes for receiving the said shore ends comprising parallellimiting-walls, an abutment formed between the said limiting-lugs uponthe bottom of the box for receiving the end thrust of the top chordbeam,and a bolt for holding the said chordbeam in place, substantially asdescribed.

4.. In a bridge structure, the combination with a top chord-beam andbottom chordbeams, of foot-boxes for supportin g the shore ends thereof,an abutment formed upon the bottom of the foot-boxes for receiving and Alattice supporting the end thrust of the top chordbeams, integral sidewalls or limiting-lugs for limiting. the lateral movement of the beam, astrengthening-abutment formed on the outer sides of the said side wallsor limiting-lugs, and means for holding the said foot-boxes in place,substantially as described.

5. In a bridge structure, the combination with a top chord-beam andbottom chordbeams, of foot-boxes for receiving and supporting the shoreends thereof, a base-plate formedupon its upper side with a socket orrecess, rollers mounted in the said socket and adapted to support thefoot-boxes proper and means connecting the rollers for spacing themproperly, the'construction being such that the' expansion andcontraction of the metal of the structure will be compensated,substantially as described.

6. In a bridge structure, the combination with a top chord-beam andbottom chordbeams, of a foot-box for supporting the same, parallel lugsformed upon the said foot-box for receiving the shore ends of brace-rodsfor bracing the structure laterally, and means for securing the saidfoot-box to the shore, substantially as described.

7. In a bridge structure, the combination with panel-posts andfloor-beams, of a top chord-beam comprising longitudinal beams and alongitudinal binding-plate having ribs which are rolled upon the saidlongitudinal beams for holding them together, splicingplates secured tothe binding-plate of the said chord-beam, the said splicing-platesextendin g inwardly beyond the edge of the plate and engaging bracingstructures for holding the chord-beam in proper place, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a bridge structure, the combination with panel-posts andfloor-girders, of top chord-beams each comprising longitudinal beams anda binding-plate having ribs which are rolled upon the said longitudinalbeams for holding them together, splicing clips or plates secured to'thesaid binding-plate for holding its adjoining ends together, the saidplate extending beyond the inner edge of the said plate, an angle-platealso secured to said chord-beam, the construction being such thatlateral bracing structures may be secured to I the said top chord-beambetween the said angle-plate and the said splicing-plate, substantiallyas described.

9. In a bridge structure, the combination .With a top chord-beam havinga channel in its under side, of panel-posts extending into the saidchannel, a stiffening-box fitting the inner contour of the said channeland receiving the upper end of said panel-posts for strengthening thejoints, substantially as described.

10. In a bridge structure, the combination with a topchord-beam having achannel in its under side, of panel-posts entering said channel, a boltfor securing the said panelgles to the said flanges for engaging thesaid.

bolt, and means for suspending floor-girders from the said bolt,substantially as described.

12. In a bridge structure, the combination with top chord-beams, of mainpanel-posts, floor-girders supported thereby, intermediate panel-postscomprising bars or angle-irons, suspended from the said top'chord-beams,eyebars suspended from the said angle-bars and connecting them withfloor-beams and brace-rods for holding the said angle and eye bars inplace, substantially as described.

13. In a bridge structure, the combination with top chord-beams, ofpanel-postssuspended therefrom, floor-girders supported by the saidpanel posts, stringers connecting and resting upon saidfloor-girders,securing-plates interposed between the said stringers, andthe said girders having downwardly-extending lugs for engaging notchesin the said girders and upwardly-extending lugs for engaging notches inthe said stringers, the construction being such that the stringers and.the girders are securely fastened together, substantially as described.

14. In a bridge structure, the combination with top chordbeams, of endsections bent downwardly therefrom to form shore-engaging portions,panelposts supported by the said top chord beams, struts or diagonalbeams connecting the middle of the said downwardly-bent chord-beams withthe bottom of the first main panel-post, and parallel IIO T-irons alsoparallel with the said struts for 7 further supporting the said endstructure, substantially as described.

15. In abridge structure, the combination with top chord-beams, of endportions bent downwardly for engaging the shore, struts or diagonalbeams for bracing the said end portions, the said struts being providedwith boltreceiving apertures in their ends and having their web portionscut away to allow a passage of the said bolts, and bolts passing throughthe said apertures and cut-away portions for securing the partstogether, substantially as described.

16. In a bridge structure, the combination with top chord-beams, ofpanel-posts suspended therefrom, diagonal braces for bracing the saidpanel-posts with respect to each-other, tension-bars extending frompanel-post to 17. Ina bridge structure, the combination with topchord-beams, of panel-posts suspended therefrom, tension bars havingscrewthreads upon one end and provided with bifurcated portions upontheir other ends, the

said screw-threaded ends engaging plates applied to the sides of thepanel-posts, and the bifurcated ends passing through the Web of thepanel-posts and the said plates, and nuts for securing them therein,substantially as described.

18. In a bridge structure, the combination with top chord-beams, ofpanel-posts suspended therefrom, intermediate panel-posts also suspendedfrom said top chord-beams, and lateral braces interposed between thechords adjacent to the intermediate panel-posts upon opposite sides ofthe structure, and angleplates bolted to the sides of the said topchordbeams and securing the ends of the said lateral braces in place,substantially as described.

19. In a bridge construction, the combination with top chord-beams, ofend sections bent downwardly and engaging the shore for supporting thesaid bridge structure, lateral braces connecting the said end sectionsand lattice-work interposed between the said lateral braces and the saidend sections of the top cl1ord-beams,and diagonal struts or braces forfurther bracing the lattice-work and lateral braces with respect to theend panelposts, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

CHARLES M. HORTON.

Witnesses:

JAMES T. WATSON, CHARLES H. BRADLEY.

